Make Learning Fun by Integrating Art into Other Subjects

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It is common knowledge that children do not show equal interest in all the subjects taught in school. They may be naturally good or have a keen interest in some subjects, thereby making learning easier. But there are some subjects, which they may find boring, and it becomes difficult to keep them engaged in these subjects.

Visual arts like painting, drawing, coloring, etc. can be of great help in this regard. In developed countries, several schools have started to integrate arts into teaching other subjects, such as science, math, social sciences, etc. This approach towards learning not only improves the quality of learning but also helps in boosting creativity and self-confidence among children.

How Does It Work?

As opposed to a standard textbook-based approach to learning, students are either given an existing piece of art or asked to create a new piece of drawing or painting that’s related to any subject of their curriculum. It’s this process of creating or observing of art that helps children absorb otherwise complex concepts in a simple way. For example, a lesson on geometry can involve observing a painting with a lots of shapes and angles. There are several other examples of this methodology, as seen below.

Applications of This Approach in Different Subjects

Life sciences: Students can be given a painting with objects, say animals or trees, and made to discuss the various aspects of the painting. Students can also be encouraged to create drawings that are based on shape of the object being discussed, say a leaf. Alternatively, students can be made to observe an object (e.g. a caterpillar or a butterfly) and made to draw it based on their observations. Students can also be shown different stages of lifecycle and be made to express their understanding of these stages in a visual form.

Math: Even a difficult subject like math can be taught effectively using art. For example, to memorize numbers, students can be made to color drawings of number. If the activity is done regularly, these numbers will get etched in the memory of the kids, while also providing fun. Similarly to teach geometry, kids can be made to draw items using specific geometric objects such as a line, a circle or a square. Complex concepts like multiplication can also be taught using colors.

Geography: Kids can be made to draw flags of different countries. It can be difficult to memorise so many flags at a young age, but if children are made to draw and color some prominent flags, they will have much greater recall. Students can also be made to draw maps or be made to color different regions of maps using different colors.

History: Graphic novels are a highly popular means of teaching history. As opposed to a lot of textual content, these novels teach history using visuals and graphics, which makes learning fun. Teachers can also give paintings of different eras to students and facilitate a discussion of the unique socioeconomic aspects of each era as evident in the art.

Music education: Students can be made to draw cartoons based on their interpretation of a piece of music playing in the background. If the music has a story element, students can also be made to create a complete storyboard, depicting the flow of the story.

Language skills: Art can also be very handy in developing language skills among kids. For example, students can be given new vocabulary words and be made to draw the word’s meaning. Also, just like number coloring activities, kids can be given the task of coloring different alphabets or words.

Benefits of Integrating Art into Learning

Increased Engagement: Unlike textbook learning, which can get monotonous and routine, art engages learners in new ways. Whether they are observing a drawing/painting or creating one of their own, they are required to be fully immersed in the activity. Art also helps in increasing the fun element of learning.

Improved Quality of Learning: As the children are more engaged, it has a positive impact on the quality of learning. Because of greater participation, the learnings remain in the minds of children long after they exit the classroom. Furthermore, studies have shown that art integration not only helps in improving engagement among children, but also has a noticeable effect on their academic achievements.

Boost Creativity: To succeed in today’s times, creativity is a must-have skill. Not all kids are inclined towards art. For those who are not interested in art, integration of art into learning can be a good introduction to creativity.

Increased Confidence: Whether its painting or drawing or coloring, engaging in these activities provides children with a creative outlet to communicate their feelings. Also creating a piece of art, even if it’s a simple drawing, gives a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Thus, integrating art into learning reduces the fear of failure among kids and encourages them to take more risks.

Conclusion

To conclude, although it may sound a little unconventional, integration of art into education offers a lot of benefits. The key to success here is to effectively connect art with other subjects. The integration should be harmonious and should not appear as forced to the kids.